Avensis axed as Camry makes UK return

FOLLOWING a 14-year absence from UK showrooms, the Toyota Camry is set to return. The big saloon will slot into the range next year as the brand kills off the slow-selling Avensis.

Bosses have yet to announce specs for the new VW Passat rival that will be sold in the UK, but we know it will be the latest version that’s based on the modular front-wheel-drive Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform tech, as seen on the C-HR and Prius.

UK Camrys will feature a 2.5-litre fourcylinder petrol-electric hybrid set-up; similar to the system soon to be offered on the BMW 5 Series-rivalling Lexus ES, which is the Camry’s sister vehicle.

Toyota says that the car’s ride and handling will be “specifically tuned for the European market”; that’s likely to mean a stiffer and more responsive chassis set-up than American versions.

Toyota’s factory in Burnaston, Derbyshire, which builds the Avensis, will be unaffected by the switch, the Japanese manufacturer has stated.

A spokesperson told Auto Express: “There will be no impact on employment. At the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year we revealed the new Auris and announced Burnaston as the production location for this model.”

The Camry is expected to arrive in UK showrooms early next year and be priced slightly higher than the Avensis, from around £26,000. The increase reflects the newcomer’s larger size and hybrid powertrain.